The Dream of MLK lives on through day of service in Bucks County. How to participate

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is Monday and there are plenty of opportunities in Bucks County to celebrate his legacy of racial harmony and community building.

Here are a few of the Bucks County churches and community centers that have Day of Service events planned, and how you can volunteer or otherwise participate.

Teen peace and social justice summit at the Peace Center

The Peace Center in Langhorne, is sponsoring an "MLK Teen Peace and Social Justice Summit" on Sunday, Jan. 14, which features a keynote by educator and musician Stephen J. Tyson, Jr.

The summit will take place in Keller Hall Auditorium of Pennsbury High School West Campus, at 608 South Olds Blvd. in Fairless Hills.

The teen peace and social justice summit is open to high school student and some middle school students, educators, parents and community members.

There will be separate workshops for students, educators and parents, along with a number of inspirational Speakers. Students will also share stories of their personal experience.

The summit is looking to produce meaningful and honest conversations about racism, discrimination and intolerance.

The summit beings at 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public; however, registration is required.

Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church to feature guest speakers, events on Day of Service

Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church, at 1680 Aquetong Road in New Hope, will kick off its Day of Service events with a registration and breakfast at 9 a.m., followed by a keynote speech by Urban Promise Trenton Executive Director Sean McFadden.

McFadden's keynote will begin at 9:30.

"Jesus says that his greatest prayer is that “they may be one”. In our fractured world we are faced with division and strife. Join us this year as we seek to be a united people who love God, love one another and serve the world.

“Join us on Monday, Jan. 15, as we take action to care for those who are hurting, both in our community and around the world and as we choose to grow, learn and listen to how to be a more unified people," read a post on the church's website. "We’ll partner with local mission organizations to complete service projects and get to hear the Mad Beatz Drumline perform."

The church's MLK Day of Service continues with a service projects and kid's story time session at 11 a.m., followed by a panel discussion and wealth gap simulation segment at noon. Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church officials ask that interested people to either register to attend or participate.

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Packing food for the homeless on MLK Day

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Parish, at 330 Hulmeville Avenue in Pendel, will honor King's mission in part by packing Snack Bags for children and their families who are staying at a homeless shelter in Levittown.

Our Lady of Grace is asking for parishioners and neighbors to participate in packing the bags at 10 a.m. in the school cafeteria. The parish is also requesting donations of individual Snack Packs, fruit cups (with a plastic spoon), water bottles and juice boxes, napkins, plastic utensils and clear gallon ziplock bags. Donations can be dropped off before the event on Monday morning, or ahead of time in the designated bins located at all the church entrances on Sunday, Jan. 14.

The Giving Tree providing 'Socks for the homeless' during MLK Day events

Nonprofit The Giving Tree in nearby Montgomery County is challenging adolescents to become involved with social giving to create ‘sock rolls’ to benefit the homeless community.

More than 15,000 sock rolls have been pledged to date by 47 area schools, scout troops, families and churches.

While it may be too late to register for the sock roll challenge itself, The Giving Tree is accepting donations for its Day of Service event.

Day of service and art at the Michener Art Museum

The Michener Art Museum, at 138 S. Pine St. in Doylestown, will look to educate the community on King's life and legacy through art and sound during its Day of Service celebration.

Beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, participants will create collages with uplifting messages, which will be shared with community members attending the Community Peace Meals at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury.

Organizers are requesting donations of new or gently used clothing and shoes, new undergarments and socks.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

History of MLK Day of Service

Then-president Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law in November of 1983, designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first introduced just four days after his assassination on April 4, 1968.

According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the King Holiday and Service Act was signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994.

Inspired by King’s life of service, the late Congressman John Lewis and former Senator Harris Wofford proposed the legislation to encourage Americans to find common causes and methods of improving their communities.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Honoring MLK's Dream: Day of Service events in Bucks County